EP009 – Troubleshooting Data East TMNT

Let’s dive into Data East’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pinball with some live troubleshooting!

3:20 Kyle introduces the DE TMNT pinball machine

4:00 Closeup of TMNT playfield

4:29 Kyle opens the machine and grabs the head key

5:16 inside of the backbox

5:40 some common issues with boards in DE games

6:08 replacing batteries with NVRAM

6:35 burnt connectors are an issue in DE games and why IDC connectors should be replaced with Molex.

7:30 boards should be screwed down.

8:45 batteries might cause corrosion and what happens when you remove batteries and don’t replace with NVRAM

9:25 removing speaker panel and why ground straps are important

9:55 indypins asks about lithium batteries and asks what they should be replaced with

10:40 Kyle removes the battery pack

10:55 TJ Beyer says the PPB is missing a transistor

11:20 using remote battery holders and where to mount them

12:45 indypins asks about ni-cad batteries and Kyle re-iterates that no batteries and NVRAM is better, but as long as you change them it’s probably okay.

13:40 some games have features that won’t work without batteries being present.

13:59 Netreamer gives us a tip on fuses and values

14:15 fuse clips and how to check them (pintip)

16:00 how to correctly power up a used game for the first time.

16:45 past owner hacks that need to be fixed (auto-launch)

17:24 Kyle comments on how the rails are “crunchy” and suggests greasing them

18:20 solid state flipper board and checking fuse clips

19:50 mitchell reeder asks about the function of the cylinder in the bottom cabinet of DE games

20:44 solid state flippers and explains why DE eventually went back to EOS switches

21:20 closer look at the auto-launch mechanism

22:45 Imoto will be back next week!

23:03 why manufacturer’s moved away from compressions springs and went to extension springs

24:00 Kyle tells us about original DE flipper links and suggests changing them for newer style links

25:46 what needs lubing

26:17 what grease to use to fix the “crunchiness”

27:30 what to check right before powering up.

28:30 PinScore DMD and the history of the smaller DMD

29:24 Kyle turns TMNT off and reconnects the coil power

30:14 Kyle explains GI strands (pintip)

32:00 the difference between GI and feature lamps

32:20 how to differentiate between GI strands

33:45 Kyle returns to the loose pop bumper coil and notices a missing screw

35:17 Kyle notices that the sewer upkicker plunger is very sticky and shows us how to lubricate the the pivot point of the mech with zoom spout oil

38:25 Kyle teaches us how important it is to be able to identify screws

41:02 Kyle shows off his hardware box and shows us the difference between a #6 and #8 screw.

42:45 Kyle explains the usage of T-nuts

43:45 Mitchell reeder asks how to remove an old T-nut

44:15 different sizes of screws and where they are used (pintip)

45:00 Steve suggests buying a fastener kit

47:20 Kyle greases the rails and gives us a closeup of the greased rail

48:20 Kyle lowers the playfield and rolls it over the grease

50:00 Kyle removes a hacked screw from the apron. 50:40 “leave everything nicer than it was before”.

51:40 ball service mech, removes the coil (pintip)

55:00 Kyle explains how he made his bent screwdriver

55:48 Kyle applies grease to a screwdriver then the pivot post

56:10 Kyle reinstalls kicker to the service assembly.

57:00 difference between extensions springs and compression spring

58:00 re-installing the ball trough kicker mech.

59:10 Mitchell asks about people using a shorter extension spring and Kyle explains that you shouldn’t have to do that if everything is clean.

1:00:10 NetReamer asks about striker ring on Data East machines.

1:01:15 Kyle gives advice about how to install flipper rubber (PinTip)

1:05:20 Kyle explains the wireform under the apron

1:06:23 Kyle replaces the plastic apron

1:07:24 playfield slide rails are short and it’s possible to pull the playfield off of them. (pintip)

1:08:35 Data East test system.

1:11:01 Rolling_wonder tells us that some EMs have a wireform in the backbox

1:11:45 TJ Beyer tells us that WMS system 11 and earlier have the same diagnostic switch setup as Data East

1:12:16 Kyle continues showing us the DE diagnostic system

1:13:00 flashers aren’t considered lamps but solenoids in the diagnostic menu.

1:13:36 Kyle shows us the ramp flaps and explains that they will need to be replaced due to kinking.

1:15:00 Kyle finds the Data East flasher test

1:16:03 Kyle points out that the DE CPU is very similar to System 11 CPU and explains what each board in the backbox is.

1:20:00 Kyle shows us that the auto-kicker is having issues and explains why it’s needing fixing.

1:21:35 Kyle slam tilts the game after putting two balls into sewer confuses the computer

1:25:29 Kyle finds a loose screw and reminds us that every pinball is broken, you just have to search the issue.

1:26:25 NetReamer gives us the DE part number for the striker ring.

1:27:10 Wrapping up.